Northern Ireland hero David Healy insists Michael O’Neill had every right to be frustrated as he picked up a caution which will see him watch Tuesday’s crunch Nations League clash in Hungary from the stands.

O’Neill collected his second yellow card of the campaign during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Ukraine, which was sealed by Terry Devlin’s memorable strike from distance.

With eight minutes remaining at Windsor Park, O’Neill was booked by referee François Letexier for his reaction to Northern Ireland not being awarded a free-kick for a challenge on Ciaran Brown just in front of the technical areas.

There was also Northern Irish frustration when Jamie Donley was booked for showing his anger at play failing to be stopped for a head injury to captain Trai Hume.

placeholder image — Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

The Sunderland star had to leave the pitch for treatment on a cut before returning to help his team seal maximum points with strapping wrapped around his head.

As a result of picking up the booking, striker Donley – who has started in Northern Ireland’s last 10 matches – will now miss Tuesday’s trip as his side look to seal Nations League promotion.

O’Neill’s assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl will look after proceedings on the touchline alongside coaches Steven Davis and Diarmuid O’Carroll at the Puskas Arena.

A manager himself, Healy understood O’Neill’s frustration and was disappointed by the referee’s decision not to halt proceedings after Hume was caught by Igor Krasnopir’s stray arm.

"Michael is annoyed and rightly so,” said Healy on BBC. “Trai Hume is down, and at any level, even our own domestic level, with a head injury, especially a cut...the referee is telling him to get up as if he's play-acting, absolute madness.

"I know Trai better than the referee does, I know he's not going to lie down and give himself a minute off the pitch, I knew it was something more serious.

"Jamie Donley picks up a yellow which puts him out of Tuesday, Michael is frustrated as there's a foul on Ciaron Brown which the linesman and fourth official are close to, that's why Michael is frustrated.

"The shape won't change, Diarmuid, Steven and Jimmy Nicholl will be easy to manage. Michael will be annoyed he's missing it but it's a brilliant night.”

Donley’s absence provides Northern Ireland with a problem to solve in their bid to secure League A promotion.

While not a striker at club level, O’Neill has viewed Donley's all-round ability as his best solution at number nine across the past 12 months.

Aged 36, Josh Magennis came on to earn cap number 94 on Saturday night, replacing Donley, and may be viewed as the most natural fit.

Callum Marshall has scored four goals in 13 League One games for Luton Town this term but hasn't started a competitive match at international level since October 2024 – a famous 5-0 Nations League win over Bulgaria at Windsor Park.

Braiden Graham is another attacking option in O’Neill’s squad, however, the Everton teen is still awaiting his first Northern Ireland cap.

Former Northern Ireland star Stuart Dallas believes Magennis is the best solution – if he features, he’ll go level on caps with Healy.

“I think it's well-documented that it's not a position they're blessed with a lot to choose from,” said Dallas. “He has brought Josh on tonight and I think he's the natural one without having to move too many around out of position.”